Mikel Arteta is set to ink a new deal with Arsenal that would keep him there until 2027, having promised to commit to the team for the long haul. The club has ended any ambiguity surrounding the highly-rated 42-year-old manager of Arsenal, whose current contract is set to expire after this season.
After becoming head coach in December 2019, Arteta’s performance led many to believe that a new contract was just a matter of time.
In the summer of 2020, Arteta guided Arsenal to an FA Cup victory. Since then, he has managed two exciting title challenges. Both times, Arsenal came in second to Manchester City, but the team feels like they are headed in the right direction as they aim for significant hardware this year.
Here, Telegraph Sport examines Arteta’s ability to turn the club around and why Arsenal was so eager to guarantee his future.
Year-over-year growth
Fundamentally speaking, every year that Arteta has been at Arsenal, the team has improved. Seldom have any teams in the history of the Premier League had such a steady ascent for such an extended length of time?
Arteta has improved Arsenal’s point total in every season since taking over. They concluded with 56 points in 2019–20. They concluded the previous season with 89.
Arsenal has surpassed the club record for most goals in a Premier League season twice in the past two years. They scored 88 goals in 2022–2023 and 91 goals in 2023–2024. With just 29 goals allowed, their defence was the best in the league the previous season as well.
Arsenal has improved as a team every season, becoming less of a vulnerable defensive unit. Every trend is heading in the right way.
Enhancing players’ abilities
Improving the players he has at his disposal is one of a coach’s most significant duties. In the Premier League, the ability to develop average players into exceptional players is crucial, and Arteta has proven to be exceptional in this area.
Bukayo Saka, who was a left-back when Arteta took over the team, is the most obvious example. Saka is now a true star for the England national team and one of the most formidable right-wingers in the European game.
Since joining Arsenal, Martin Odegaard has also reached his immense potential, and players like Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes have improved season after season.
Another person who has benefited from Arteta’s guidance is Kai Havertz, who at Chelsea only displayed glimmers of his potential. After joining from Stamford Bridge last season, he struggled in midfield until Arteta switched him to a centre-forward role. He was one of Europe’s most potent offensive players by the end of the year.
Gaining an advantage in the transfer market
To be sure, not every player Arteta took over from his predecessor got better under his direction. As Arteta and sports director Edu pursued younger and more adaptable options in the transfer market, many were abruptly dismissed from the team.
While not the only factor in Arsenal’s successful recruitment, Arteta undoubtedly plays a significant role. Many of the players signed with the team because they were eager to work with the manager of Arsenal, who has a reputation for giving targets engaging pitches. Because of his intense desire to sign with Arsenal, one source said that a player was practically “brainwashed” during a meeting with Arteta.
Arsenal has spent around £700 million on new hires since Arteta took over. Of that amount, about £550 million is seen as a solid business (not counting the £70 million invested this summer on new arrivals Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino). The largest transactions, which included Havertz for £65 million, White for £50 million, and Declan Rice for £105 million, were all successes.
Only Fabio Vieira (£30 million from Porto) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (£15 million from Anderlecht) may be regarded as failures among the notable transactions that have occurred under Arteta’s direction. Those two players are out on loan at the moment.